At Rice University, graduate student Daniel Gorczynski and bioscientist Lydia Beaudrot have pioneered a modern method for field vegetation measurement. This groundbreaking approach employs the Microsoft HoloLens Mixed Reality headset to gauge plant growth, advancing ecology and conservation efforts.

Crafted with the intention to alleviate ecologists from the need for costly and unwieldy equipment for measuring vegetation in natural settings, the proof of concept introduces an innovative application named VegSense. Daniel, in fact, undertook his first venture into software engineering to develop this custom application. His journey was facilitated by a plethora of online tools he discovered, highlighting how even individuals without prior experience can successfully create their own applications.

The initial results of this Proof of Concept (PoC) are promising, as Daniel and Lydia suggest it could potentially serve as a cost-effective alternative to the conventional practice of classical field measurements. The project’s overarching goal is to replace traditional field surveys, where painstakingly each plant is measured one by one using a measuring tape and stick. As anyone familiar with this method knows, it’s a time-consuming and inefficient process. Instead, researchers can simply don the HoloLens headset and perform measurements in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods.

The benefits of VegSense extend beyond efficiency. As users assess each plant or tree, a live data dashboard provides immediate analysis. If ecologists miss a plant or accidentally gather data from the wrong tree, they can easily retrieve archived information from the system’s history. The entire process proves cost-effective compared to traditional methodologies, and the aim is for this open-source application to be accessible to all.

VegSense operates by having users wear the headset and traverse through forests or areas with vegetation. As their gaze scans the plants, the HoloLens captures their field of view and measures the vegetation. Users observe a “holograph-like grid pattern that maps the vegetation surfaces,” revealing areas that might have been overlooked. During field tests conducted at Houston’s Memorial Park, VegSense effortlessly detected 48 of the 50 target trees within a roughly 30-foot diameter circle. The level of detail rivals manual measurement methods, while the time required is significantly reduced.

This proof of concept pushes the boundaries of our perception of Mixed Reality and the Microsoft HoloLens. While industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and education have predominantly embraced these technologies, this project aspires to illustrate that individuals across diverse sectors can successfully craft their own custom applications.